The spacecraft performs its last maneuver to put it on the correct path to enter Earth's
atmosphere on Friday, Jan. 13, at 8:53 p.m. Pacific time (9:53 p.m. Mountain time). The
speed of the sample return capsule as it enters Earth's atmosphere at 46,440 kilometers
per hour (28,860 miles per hour) will be the greatest of any human-made object on record.
The previous record was set in May 1969 by the returning Apollo 10 command module.

The capsule will release a parachute at approximately 32 kilometers (105,000 feet) and
descend to the salt flats. Weather permitting, it will be recovered by helicopter teams
and taken to a cleanroom at the Michael Army Air Field, Dugway Proving Ground, for
initial processing.

Stardust launched on Feb. 7, 1999, and encountered comet Wild 2 on Jan. 2, 2004. It flew
less than 241 kilometers (150 miles) from the comet's nucleus to capture tiny grains of
dust. During the voyage, the spacecraft captured bits of interstellar dust streaming into
the solar system from other parts of the galaxy. Scientists believe these precious samples
will help provide answers to fundamental questions about comets and the origins of the
solar system. Additional Stardust information is online at http://www.nasa.gov/stardust .